Day 11 Croton on the Hudson 3rd day Thursday May 31, 2018

Day 11 Croton on the Hudson 3rd day Thursday May 31, 2018
Clouds east wind 60 Degrees to start then if stayed cloudy with showers in the afternoon.

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 Today we stayed again at Halfmoon marina. Rick and Kris, friends we met at the fall and spring rendezvous were coming in today so we wanted to see them.

In the morning I worked and succeeded to getting all the marine electronics talking to each our. Which I did and I am pleased.

Rick and Kris arrived around noon.

 

They had friends from home stop to see them and we all walked to dinner at a nearby Italian pizza place. Food was  very good, and much of it came home with us. Since we walked, Rick and I agreed we needed an ice cream for our reward - yum.

Plan to move tomorrow.

Good night and may God Bless

Day 11 Croton on the Hudson 2nd day Wednesday May 30, 2018

Day 11 Croton on the Hudson 2nd day Wednesday May 30, 2018
Clouds Light east wind 65 Degrees to start then sun and high mid seventy's Perfect day

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Today was our day to visit NYC. We took Metro North into Grand Central Station.
And what is the meaning of this photo? Well it is the parking lot for the Station. I commuted into Boston (bus I will admit) and it highlights the trek that grew oh so trying at the end of my career. What a pleasure to walk to the station and ride in to the City after the rush in the morning and come back before the evening rush. And Faye was oh so tickled that she didn't qualify for the senior discount.

 Grand Central Station certainly is grand

 And we add to its class, don't you think?

 We decided to just do a big loop of mid town. The uptown public library was impressive.

 For son Robert, who has made us wonder about his true identity at times - does this shirt hold the truth of the matter?

 The Empire State Building It looks so very different from the ground than from a distance.

 The miracle on 34th street happened here so we decided we needed to see the mother ship of the Macy's chain.

  Nine floors. which are huge, three of which where all women's clothes, one for cosmetics, one for women's shoes (can you imagine?). and one floor for men's clothes and shoes and underwear!!

 This old wooden escalator was so old, that I am sure that Kris Kringle used it.

 No trip to NYC would be complete without visiting Times Square.

 Below is looking south. For today's "I Spy" you have to fine the number 2018. And why, I ask you, would countless folks stand in the cold to see the ball drop to light it up?

 We walked to Central Park. It is immense. We only strolled through the southerly end of the park.

 Left the park to stroll 5th Ave. The Trump tower is impressive.

 But putting that aside the most amazing sight of the day was St Paul's Catholic Cathedral.

 The magnificence of the outside was only surpassed by the beauty and solemnness of the interior. The pictures only capture a small portion of the beauty of this church. It was awe inspiring and humbling to sit in a pew and ponder.

 So I would say that was a wonderful way to finish our tour so I will say,

Good Night and May God Bless

Day 10 NYC to Croton on the Hudson Tuesday May 29, 2018

Day 10 NYC to Croton on the Hudson Tuesday May 29, 2018
Clouds Light east wind 65 Degrees to start then sun and high 80's Nice

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We left the anchorage about 8:00. Those that have been following know that is late.

Well the SOL made it though the night.
We at least got the front of the boat in a picture. Even though we will have to wait for the "our boat" in the frame when we have a buddy boat in the future.

 The skyline with the new  World Trade center building.
There was ferry boat traffic everywhere. But we made it fine. The AIS was alarming almost constantly. Had to shut ii off

 The little light under the George Washington Bridge

 There is money in the waves!!

 The new Tappan Zee bridge. Demolishing is underway and the center span of the old bridge has been removed.

The view from Halfmoon marina. Not bad eh?

We are only thirty or so miles form NYC and the landscape is dramatically more bucolic.

 The temperatures reach high eighties - maybe ninety so this sign caught our eye.

 So as the sun has set, I will say

Good Night and May God Bless

Day 9 Port Washington to NYC Monday May 28, 2018

Day 9 Port Washington to NYC Monday May 28, 2018
Clouds Light east wind 60 Degrees about all day.

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Well click on the link above to see where we are tonight. We are sharing the NYC harbor with the Statue of Liberty. We can see her over the trees of Liberty State Park.

The trip down the East River was more than I imagined. Seeing the world's most famous landmark was breathtaking - and very hard to comprehend we were seeing her from our own boat. But the reality of the event was verified by the attention I needed to give to all the boat traffic. Kind of like Boothbay Harbor after the Fourth of July fireworks.

Here's some photos coming down the river.

The Amtrak railroad bridge is first. I have always looked up river from the train and said " Someday I will be that boat." Well today I was that boat!!!

 Approach to Hell's Gate. We caught to ebbing tide.

 Hell's Gate. Current is nearly 5 knots.

 United Nations building

 First glimpses of the Statue of Liberty

 And there she is. Will get some better photos tomorrow - a lot of boat traffic today.

And finally from our anchorage the night has fallen on a wonderful day.
So I will say on this Memorial Day,

Good Night and May God Bless America

And the words I remember singing in kindergarten mean more tonight than ever.

God bless America
Land that I love
Stand beside her
And guide her
Through the night with the light from above

 

From the mountains
To the prairies
To the oceans
White with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home

Day 8 Port Washington - 2nd day Sunday May 27, 2018

Day 8 Port Washington - 2nd day Sunday May 27, 2018
Rain Wind 55 Degrees to start and only reached 60

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The trip is one that we are on for a long time. It seems funny to have a bad weather day and not be able to jump in the car and go do something different. The forecast showers of yesterday turned into a full fledged rainy and windy day. Even in the harbor there was enough fetch to make some chop - but not real waves. If you look close the pennant on the bow rail is pushed down from all the wind in yesterday's thunderstorm.

We slept in late - I got up at 6:00 and the Admiral lounged a while long. This layover stuff is not so bad.

I got to enjoy a whole pot of coffee from a cup. Normally most of it is taken to the flybridge in a thermos cup. This is way more enjoyable.

 The rain let up for while in the afternoon . So where would any self-respecting boater go. Why to West Marine of course. The water taxi picked me up and delivered me to the north pier where we dinghied to the day before.

I turned left this time and a short walk enabled me to part with 83 dollars at West Marine. I should by some stock. An ACE hardware store was much kinder on the wallet at 22 dollars.

And  some of you may have noted my comment yesterday about the fine stretch of weather we have been having and saying - HA. Well I cheated a little and looked a the forecast before I wrote it. But good weather is planned to return tomorrow - we'll see.

I just turned on the anchor light so time to say

Good Night and May God Bless

Day 7 Eaton Neck to Port Washington Saturday May 26, 2018

Day 7 Eaton Neck to Port Washington Saturday May 26, 2018
Clear, Warm, Calm Seas 65 Degrees to start.

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The southerly wind blew gently nearly all night. The protected Eaton Neck provided a calm sea condition. The sun shown clear in a cloudless sky. Shhhhh - but we have had great weather.

The morning light enticed some of the locals to go for a stroll. For today's "I Spy" you need to count the number of deer you see it the two photos below.

Yes you are correct - 2 in the first and 4 in the second. Good job!!
The entrance to the harbor is lined with some impressive homes. Click on the photos to really see the McMansions.

The town welcomes boaters - unlike Port Jefferson.  We traveled the 18 miles from Eaton's neck easily and slowly. We arrived at about noon time and picked up on of the free town moorings. The temperature rose to high 80's. We walked to the Stop and Shop right across from the north town dock.

From the photos above of our entrance into Port Washington, you can see that there are several folks with some serious money. Then why should not the Yacht Club be equally impressive.

The boat Freedom, built in 1936 is lying next to us. It is out of Newport RI. It was completely restored in 2009.

Right after dinner was had a very strong thunderstorm come on through. It was windy and rainylllllll

Rain threatens for tomorrow so we will likely tomorrow take a lay day here on the two day free mooring.

Good Night and May God Bless.